Imagine a future where humans thrive in harmony with our planet, not just surviving, but truly living. That’s the heart of Sapiens 3000, a one-year experiment in living that seeks to uncover what life could, and should, look like in 2024 and beyond. We embarked on this journey with a fundamental question: If humans are to reach the year 3000, what kind of life must we embrace?
We all know it, deep down: humans’ current consumption of natural resources is unsustainable. Our planet’s resources are finite, yet since the Industrial Revolution, global temperatures have steadily risen. The years following the COVID-19 pandemic have seen an alarming increase in severe natural disasters and erratic climate patterns. Everything feels out of balance. If we continue our current path of consumption, we simply cannot expect humans to live in peace.
The future could mean constant relocation, a scramble for basic necessities like food, water, and clean air. Without a drastic shift, without significantly reducing our consumption, everything will become tainted by the very chemicals born from our own actions. It’s a sobering thought, a reflection of how deeply interconnected we are with our world. Our planet, nature, and all living beings rely on each other. If one element vanishes, the ripples will be felt by all.
This stark reality was the catalyst for Satita Taratis (Mind) and Korkiat Treepattasuwan (Big) to embark on a journey: to rekindle our relationship with nature. The Sapiens 3000 project began with a conscious awareness of limited resources. We were incredibly fortunate to borrow a space from The Land Foundation in Chiang Mai, which became our living laboratory, a real-world testing ground for a different way of life.
To sustain our project, we found creative ways to generate income: selling photographs, homemade chili paste, salted duck eggs cured in termite mound earth, and hosting ten insightful discussions on living in harmony with nature (you can find recordings on our YouTube channel, “Sapiens 3000”). We also facilitated workshops designed to help people reconnect with themselves, to question their lives, and to question the very systems that drive our world, our countries, our communities. Most importantly, we encouraged a deep engagement with nature, observing its phenomena with an open heart.
Over our year-long experiment, we started by adapting our living space. With no walls in our sleeping area, our senses were fully open to nature’s embrace: the wind, the rain, the temperature. We rose with the sun, aligning our rhythms with the earth’s. Then came the tangible work: planting vegetables, enriching the soil, using animal manure as fertilizer, and sowing heirloom seeds generously shared by Pun Pun Organic Farm and local villagers.
We truly became part of the community, getting to know the villagers by shopping and enjoying meals at local. Their warmth and acceptance were overwhelming; we became like their own children. We believe this profound connection, this willingness to help and share, stemmed from our own openness – giving freely without expecting anything in return. It might sound idealistic, but it’s a living testament that such a society can exist, if only we open our hearts and truly learn.
Through this transformation, we connected with something we’d never fully grasped before: “life force.” When we grew our own food, nurtured it to fruition, cooked over fires fueled by fallen branches, and cooked our own meals, we genuinely felt this energy. It’s a stark contrast to the ultra-processed foods found in convenience stores. We came to understand that large-scale industrial food production often extracts so much from natural resources that little, if any, “life force” remains by the time it reaches our plates.
As we shifted our consumption habits, our health demonstrably improved. Our bodies developed a stronger immunity, embracing the principle of food as medicine, using various herbs. When we eat consciously, we become intimately familiar with the life of plants, and in turn, our own cells resonate more deeply. It might be hard to believe without experiencing it yourself. So, we invite you to try it: start by changing what’s on your plate. Eat mindfully, knowing the origin of your food. Cook with care. Eat in moderation. If you have the time, try growing your own food or cooking your own meals. These small acts are a powerful way to manage your life’s time and prioritize what truly matters. We believe that after just six months, you too will undoubtedly feel the “life force” within yourself.
Throughout our year, we faced numerous natural events: intense heat, rain bomb, flash floods, PM 2.5 dust, wildfires, and earthquakes. The village elders unanimously shared a sobering truth: “We’ve never seen anything like this before.” While these are natural phenomena, their relentless succession felt anything but normal, largely driven by humans’ resource consumption and lifestyle choices. What might have taken thousands of years to unfold is now accelerating rapidly, pushing global temperatures beyond what humans can cope with. One day, we might find ourselves living in floating homes, consuming synthetic meat because there’s no land for crops, and animals have no food as water covers everything. Everything is interconnected: humans and nature can no longer be seen as separate.
Our ten discussion sessions brought us together with kindred spirits, friends who share similar thoughts and beliefs. These connections blossomed into a vibrant circle of conversation, where possibilities were explored, and life felt more hopeful. Having friends who walk a similar path creates a powerful synergy, ready to spread and inspire those searching for their own true way of living. Because swimming against the current of societal norms can feel like a constant struggle. We choose not to resist, nor do we try to force change upon others. We believe that everything unfolds in its own time. Our role is simply to do our part, to live out our beliefs, and to strive for a better society, moving forward on both personal and collective levels.
Now, as our experimental project concludes, we are in a period of reflection, sifting through our experiences, and seeking the perfect balance that allows us to adapt anywhere on this planet. This is the fundamental essence of life that we gained from the past year, and it continues to evolve.
We are excited to share our journey through a documentary film that chronicles our year. Our deepest hope is that this film will ignite hope, courage, and a powerful drive in your own heart as you read this. You can support this project by purchasing photographs at mymory.space. All proceeds, after deducting costs and labor, will directly fund this documentary series.
